News Briefs

+ County business taxes due by Sept. 30
The county business tax, formerly known as an occupational license tax, must be paid by Sept. 30, Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates announced.

The business tax notices were mailed in July. All existing businesses may pay online at www.SarasotaTaxCollector.com. New businesses should contact the tax collector’s office at 861-8300, option 3 or by email at [email protected]. 

“If you pay your tax online, a receipt can be printed instantly,” Ford-Coates said.

Business owners also may pay in person the Tax Collector Service Centers from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fridays at the Terrace Building in downtown Sarasota, 101 S. Washington Blvd.; at the South Sarasota Office, 8484 S. Tamiami Trail; and in Venice at the Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail.

Businesses in the cities of Sarasota, Venice, North Port and the town of Longboat Key also may be required to pay an additional city business tax.

+  Planning Board approves Siesta Drive store permit
During its Sept. 14 regular meeting, the city of Sarasota’s Planning Board approved a request to operate an alcoholic-beverage store in an existing shopping center at 2067 Siesta Drive.

The store, called Discount Tobacco and Beer, needed permission from the board to sell alcohol in an area zoned “commercial general.” The store is allowed to sell only beer and wine for off-premises consumption.

+  Henry promoted to Health Department administrator
The Florida Department of Health has named Charles Henry administrator of the Sarasota County Health Department. The Sarasota County Commission confirmed his appointment.

“Mr. Henry brings the great combination of years of health experience and a passion for his community to the position,” said state Surgeon General Dr. Frank Farmer in a news release.

The appointment was effective Sept. 16.

Henry has more than 30 years of experience working in both military health care and state public-health programs, including almost 10 years of public-health work in Florida. He previously served as the environmental administrator for Sarasota County Health Department. .

+  Public meeting to be held on new scrap metal law
Sarasota County and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office will hold a workshop at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, to discuss proposed changes to a county ordinance regulating the purchase of secondhand goods, precious metals and scrap metal.

The workshop will be held in the Green Room at the Sarasota County Twin Lakes Complex, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota.

The proposed ordinance changes are available online at http://bit.ly/pcXkiS.

Members of the public also may submit comments, questions and suggestions online at [email protected] until 9 a.m. Sept. 30.

Meetings & agendas
• County Commission final public hearing on 2011-2012 budget and millage rates — 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 26, R.L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice.
• Criminal Justice Commission — Noon Sept. 26, Third Floor Think Tank, Sarasota County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
• County Commission — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 27 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28, Commission Chamber, County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.